GL1500 Clutch Problem: HELP!

imported post

My guess is the slave cylinder has a small leak and slowly emptied the reservoir without you noticing. The other possibility is that you have a ruptured hose, but that is usually not the case.

Unless you have a rubber line with a hole in it, you should be able to refill the reservoir with new DOT 4, bleed it to get the air out and make it to the dealer. Be sure to put something under the reservoir since brake fluid isn't good for your paint. If you do have a hole, you might be able to wrap it tightly with duct tape and hose clamp (or twist tie) it hold long enough for you to get to the dealer.

In either case, you'll need to bleed the clutch line after refilling it. The bleeder fitting is under the left side covers down low, near the alternator. Squeeze the lever and open the fitting slightly to let air out. Then close the fitting and repeat the process until you get no more air. Don't turn the lever loose with the bleeder fitting open or you'll let air in the system and have to start over. You'll also have to start over if you let the reservoir go dry during the bleed. It would be good to have a friend pull the clutch lever and monitor the fluid level for you but you can always pull the clutch lever with your belt and check the fluid level after each bleed cycle.

imported post

Filling it with fluid may get you on the road again.

Depends on how far down it leaked out. Hopefully not far enough to let air bubbles in where they should not be.

I would try to top it off. Likely it has only leaked out enough to prevent you applying sufficient pressure to the slave cylinder.

Depending on how it acts after topping it off, I would either go see the dealer for help; or just finish my trip and go home- topping it up each morning.

I'm suspecting the latter will do just fine.

imported post

Well, an update. With the advice from you all, I got some Dot 4 fluid and a bleeder kit. Went through the bleeding process. Initially I got some old clutch fluid (yellow/brown) out of the bleeder. But along with it came some orange pieces that looked like parts of deteriorated gasket or o-ring or seal. Then it started sucking air. The bleeder reservoir showed that it was just sucking air and the level in the master cylinder was not going down. So there must be an air leak somewhere in the system. There was no evidence of any fluid on the outside of any hose that I could get to (in the hotel parking lot). Also no evidence of leaking at the master cylinder. So, I’m thinking the slave cylinder might be the problem?!?

Any additional advice?

The clutch is clearly not functional. Good news is that I have towing and I’m scheduled to be here for 3 weeks anyway, so I can have the bike hauled to the local dealer for repairs. The slave cylinder is “only” $100 from HDL, and at home, I’d probably just try to fix it myself (I am no mechanic, but I’m fearless with a shop manual in hand!). Hopefully it won’t be a ton of $$ from the stealer.

Thoughts? (And thanks to everyone for the advice!)

imported post

Well I'm always ready to make new friends. Check the internet for the local GWRRA & GWTA chapters and see if anyone local can give you a hand or loan you use of a handful of tools, advice or give you a lift to fetch parts.

Its just a quick email or two and might make you some new friends. Give a guy a chance to help rescue someone and the super hero comes out in him. Gives him a new story to tell at the next chapter meeting too.

I'd come but I'm in Seattle.

I've yet to meet a stuck up Goldwinger.

"Goldwinger is synonymous with "good people""